Headlines - Measles: Insufficient Vaccination Coverage

A resurgence of measles cases, a highly contagious disease, is currently affecting several European countries. In France, 913 cases were reported between November 6, 2017, and March 12, 2018, across 59 departments, half of which were in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Among these, 201 hospitalizations and one death (a 32-year-old unvaccinated woman) were recorded. There have been 21 deaths since 2008. The rapid increase in the number of cases during the first weeks of 2018 and the identification of outbreak clusters in several regions raise fears of a nationwide epidemic.

Insufficient vaccination coverage is responsible for the epidemic. In this context, health authorities remind the public that vaccination is the only individual and collective protection against measles. Effective protection requires two doses of the vaccine. To date, no department has achieved the 95% vaccination coverage rate by age 2 for both doses of the vaccine—the rate required to stop the virus from spreading. With vaccination coverage for the second dose ranging from 62% to 88% depending on the department, there is a real risk that the outbreak will spread nationwide in the coming months.

Vaccination: An Essential Preventive Measure Against MeaslesHealth authorities and healthcare professionals are fully mobilized to contain this outbreak and protect the population. They emphasize the need for very high vaccination coverage among the population. Such herd immunity would help eliminate the disease and thus protect infants under one year of age, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals who cannot be vaccinated themselves. It is therefore imperative that everyone born in or after 1980 has received two doses of the trivalent measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. It is recommended to verify your vaccination status and consult your primary care physician if in doubt. Furthermore, anyone diagnosed with measles is asked to follow preventive measures (self-isolation, wearing a mask) and to notify their family, social, and professional contacts so that everyone can verify their vaccination status.

Healthcare and early childhood professionals urged to remain vigilant: Given their contact with patients and young children, healthcare and early childhood professionals must be vaccinated. All healthcare professionals are urged to report any case of measles to their regional health agency (ARS) without waiting for laboratory confirmation of the case, so that the ARS can immediately identify contacts and provide prophylaxis if necessary.